Why go out when the best spot for a nightcap is at home? Perfect private parties are easy thanks to these distinctive bars, in homes from East Coast to West.

Chic Connecticut Colonial

Steps from Greenwich Avenue, this airy, stylish five-bedroom home features four levels of open-plan living space and modern design elements. In addition to a formal dining room with a butler’s pantry, a library, a family room with a fireplace, a gourmet kitchen, and an expansive terrace with built-in grill, it boasts a fabulous lower-level media and game room with a fireplace and a 10-seat bar with custom shelving, a sink, and two generous wine refrigerators.

It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2018 and hello to a new year. With just over a week until 2019 you may be wondering how you can give back during the holiday season. Yes, you can make a financial donation to a nonprofit cause near and dear to you, but here in Los Angeles, there are many ways you can lend a hand, too. From adopting a beach to reading to kids to helping with a delicious holiday dinner, a little of your time and charity can make a world of difference for those in need this and every season. Happy holidays! And be sure to check out sites like VolunteerMatch and LAWorks, where you can find nonprofits that fit your interests and skill sets.

Restaurants across Los Angeles are ringing in the new year with masquerade balls, live music, quiet low-lit evenings, lavish feasts, and thousands of flowing bottles of champagne. No matter your neighborhood, choice of cuisine, noise level, budget, or poison, the restaurants on this list will help you welcome 2019 with some of the finest food our culinary destinations have to offer.

Read on for the best places in L.A. to dine on New Year’s Eve and ring in 2019.

You probably have put in a great level of thought and effort into maintaining your home and you may have even done a costly renovation to it in the past. But it’s easy to become a little bored and uninspired by your household as the years go by and styles change (before they come back around, of course). Whether your house is missing something special or it’s just become a bit dated, these are some imaginative ways to recreate your home. With just a little polish and aplomb, it might be a long time before you need to renovate again.*

How busy have you been over the last week or so? How much have you been rushing around to make sure you get everything sorted for the next few weeks to come? Because we know it’s going to be one of the busiest times of your year, and we also know that’s going to be one of the most expensive. But considering this time of year only comes round once a year, we might as well make the most of it. You should be rushing around the shops to get as much food and presents as you can, and you should be getting as much of your family and friends together as you can. Even though we might spend the rest of the year living our busy lives, it’s really the only time of the year where you can come together for so many laughs, drinks, great food, and to just enjoy your time together. But where do you think all of things is going to happen? In your home! If it’s not in your home for Christmas day, it at least will be for one day over the festive period. So if your home is most likely going to be the center of attention, you need to make sure that all problems are kept to a minimum. Well, if you’re not even sure what you should be looking out for, then you best keep on reading!

This Thanksgiving, be thankful for your house and home, family and friends. And please consider how you can help those Californians devastated by the California wildfires of the past few weeks, from making a donation to volunteering.

Several organizations have boots on the ground and special programs supporting relief efforts. Here’s how you can make a difference for those who need it most:

During Thanksgiving, even if you love to cook, sometimes you would rather spend more quality time with family and friends than in the kitchen, stressing over the internal temperature of the bird in the oven. Other times the idea of the pile of post-meal dishes feels simply like too much work. If ever there was a year to hang up the apron and pick up the phone to order a Thanksgiving feast, 2018 would be it. This year, why not celebrate the holiday in the comfort of your own home without spending all day preparing, slicing, and mixing? All of the restaurants and stores below offer holiday meals for any size party at a wide variety of price points. All you’ll have to do is heat and serve.

Whether you are looking for a good fright this pre-Halloween weekend or if you scare easily and would just like wonderful dinner and a nice glass of wine, Los Angeles is offering you plenty of options before the big city-wide Halloween celebration on Wednesday the 31st. Events include The Nightmare Before Christmas with a live score by Danny Elfman, the Haunted Hayride, Disco Dining Club, An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi, An Evening with Rupaul, the P-22 Day Festival in Griffith Park, the KCRW Masquerade Ball, A Dog Day Brunch at Angel City Brewery, and, of course, Dia de Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever. Check out the weekend’s best pre-Halloween events below!